IT was Bolton not Manchester City who ended the game with their eyes firmly fixed on Europe after El-Hadji Diouf registered the only goal in a lacklustre encounter at Eastlands.

IT was Bolton not Manchester City who ended the game with their eyes firmly fixed on Europe after El-Hadji Diouf registered the only goal in a lacklustre encounter at Eastlands.

The controversial Senegal international was only rated doubtful for the game as he had an ankle injury - but he seized his chance just before the break to give his side the Barclays Premiership points at Eastlands.

Robbie Fowler had the City's best chance but they failed to capitalise on a lively start and looked meek in attack without the injured winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Without a top-flight victory away to City since 1956, the visitors gave Kevin Keegan's side a masterclass in counter-attacking.

Sam Allardyce's men move up a place to sixth following the win, now scenting the qualification to next season's UEFA Cup as a real possibility.

And in defeat, City's slim hopes of making the top six look to have evaporated.

However, the Blues initially attacked with purpose, with most of their threat coming from Antoine Sibierski.

Positioned between the midfield and striker Fowler, the Frenchman had the first effort on goal when he headed over from Claudio Reyna's cross after a sweeping counter-attack in the ninth minute.

Reyna return

Reyna was returning from an injury - it was his first appearance since a groin injury in November - and the America captain seemed a little off the pace of a Greater Manchester derby.

Sibierski, however, was finding plenty of space with his runs from deep. The 30-year-old was inches from getting on the end of Danny Mills' cross in the 14th minute and volleyed over from Willo Flood's delivery from a similar position three minutes later.

In response, Bolton relied on long balls for Kevin Davies to win in attack. He almost took advantage of a Richard Dunne mistake but flashed wide when he had more time than he thought.

Kevin Nolan also had an effort, drilling a low volley from outside the penalty area which David James had to get down smartly to save.

But it was Fowler who really should have opened the scoring in the 20th minute when he lofted the ball into the penalty area.

With no apparent danger, Vincent Candela took a swipe at the ball sending it towards his own goal. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen could only parry and Fowler chipped over the rebound.

Fowler, looking for his 152nd Premiership goal in his career, was made to pay for his profligacy when Diouf stole in at the far post with seconds remaining in the first half.

Stelios Giannakopoulos created the goal with good work on the left of the penalty area, with a drilled low cross that Diouf had to simply tap in.

Response

City boss Kevin Keegan responded by bringing on former England winger Steve McManaman at the break but the veteran struggled to get himself into the game.

The visitors, who had to take off skipper Jay-Jay Okocha just before the opener through injury, seemed content with sitting back and attempting counter-attacks whenever they won the ball back.

In fact, they looked more likely to score. In the 59th minute Dunne had to clear in his own penalty area as the Trotters put more pressure on.

The Republic of Ireland centre-back also had to rescue his side with a vital challenge on Giannakopoulos on the hour, with the Greece attacker bearing down on goal.

Kiki Musampa led an attack in the 62nd minute, but groans roared around Eastlands when the move broke down. The jeers grew louder a minute later as Diouf shimmied past Dunne but fired wide with just James to beat.

Dunne and Diouf continued their duel, with Dunne receiving a caution for bringing down Bolton's scorer. From the resulting free-kick Bruno N'Gotty had a free header but could not direct it to a team-mate.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was brought on for Paul Bosvelt with 23 minutes remaining as City chased the game. The youngster had a chance to run at the visitors' defence straight away, but it came to nothing.

Davies was almost rewarded for his hard work but James saved the striker's powerful volley in the 72nd minute. The former Southampton marksman then headed just wide from the resulting corner.

N'Gotty headed wide from a free-kick with 11 minutes left in the game, with Speed lurking for a tap-in.

Lee Croft, who faced Bolton in the FA Cup earlier this season, was brought on but despite impressing could not decisively influence the game.

Musampa was free in the penalty area and headed agonisingly wide with three minutes remaining - it was clearly not going to be City's night.